Poultry cull begins in Kathmandu

Nepalese health workers have begun culling hundreds of chickens and ducks following the first reported outbreak of bird flu in the capital Kathmandu, a government official has said.

"Over 500 chickens and ducks have been slaughtered in the last three days. We also destroyed dozens of eggs and several kilos of poultry feed," said government health official Narayan Prasad Ghimire.

Ghimire said a rapid response team was mobilised in the area on the outskirts of Kathmandu to prevent the virus spreading to other parts of the city. "We've banned the production and consumption of poultry products in the crisis-hit area. Poultry farming will not be allowed for at least one and half months," said Ghimire.

The outbreak was discovered after a local poultry farmer reported that 90 of his chickens had suddenly died. Samples sent to a laboratory in Britain confirmed the H5N1 strain.